Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Review | Let's Pretend this Never Happened

One of my good friends kept
sending me messages saying “you need to read this book!”, “when you are done
reading this, please pick up Let’s
Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson!”

For fans of Tina Fey and
David Sedaris—Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary
debut.

Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones
we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the
#1 New York Times bestseller, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened,
Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in
rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship
with her long-suffering husband, Victor. Chapters include: “Stanley the
Magical, Talking Squirrel”; “A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband”;
“My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking”; “And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban
Alligator on an Airplane.” Pictures with captions (no one would believe these
things without proof) accompany the text.

¶¶¶¶¶

I had no idea who Jenny Lawson (I
suppose I do live under a rock) was, or what this book was about. After three
days of Gill messaging me about it, I finally looked it up on goodreads. I had seen the cover before in
the best sellers section at Chapters before, so I decided to give it a try.
Apparently it was funny and I definitely needed to smile.

“...and whenever I had menstrual cramps, I could just pretend that
Voldemort was close.”

OH MY FUCKING GOD, you guys! I
wish I could write a review à la
Jenny Lawson worthy of this book, but I will never be funny enough. I never
laughed out loud so much while reading a book in my life. It’s definitely not
public transportation friendly if you care about what people around you think
of you. I had to stop reading a few times because I was crying with laughers.

This book is a “mostly true”
memoir of socially awkward and blogger Jenny Lawson. The author is not afraid
of using the F word, or vagina for that matter, so beware! If you are easily
offended, do not pick this book, it’s not for you!

“No
really. What exactly did you do today, Jenny? Quantify it for me."
"It's not quantifiable. There aren't even metrics for the shit I do.”

I could totally relate to some of
her stories. She’s dealing with depression and generalized anxiety disorder and
she is really honest about it! I mean, I probably would be too if my social
embarrassment tales were as hilarious as hers! When I wasn’t laughing at her epic conversations (her logic is
flawless in my opinion), I was nodding in understanding. Who hasn’t wanted to
hide under a table at a fancy dinner party because being surrounded by so many
people can be overwhelming? We all want to, but Jenny did it! She has become my
hero.

“In short? It is exhausting being me. Pretending to be normal is draining
and requires amazing amounts of energy and Xanax.”

After reading the book, I went on
her blog and spent a good few hours scrolling and soaking up her hilarious (and
sometimes very serious) adventures.

I really don’t care what your
favourite genre is. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. You
can thank me later!

P.S. I really didn’t mean to
sound rude in my last paragraph.

P.P.S. I was really mad at all
the 1 and 2 stars ratings I saw on goodreads. What is up with book snobbism?